Chapter 812 - 365: Riven’s Inner World!_2

Chapter 812: Chapter 365: Riven’s Inner World!_2

"But before exploring that distant land, I’m more curious about what’s for dinner tonight?"

"Uh... You’ll find out soon." Lin Yu’an smiled mysteriously.

The L-shaped kitchen on Polaris, though compact, is extremely well-designed, and at this moment, a seamlessly coordinated "duo culinary show" is unfolding.

Lin Yu’an is in charge of the crucial fish, taking out the perfectly chilled mackerel minced fish he scraped off that morning and pouring it into a large stainless steel bowl.

"Riven, can you pass me the salt, white pepper, an egg, and corn starch?" he instructed without lifting his head.

"Got it." Riven, like a skilled kitchen assistant, quickly retrieved everything from the storage compartment.

Lin Yu’an first added egg white and seasoning to the fish meat, discarding all modern kitchen appliances, then spreading his fingers wide, he vigorously stirred the fish meat in the same direction.

"Why do you always stir in the same direction?" Riven curiously leaned in, watching the fish meat gradually transform into a sticky, elastic paste under his stir.

"To allow the protein fibers of the fish, the myosin, to fully unfold, and then re-crosslink to form a mesh structure."

As Lin Yu’an stirred, he explained in layman’s terms, "Only this way will the fish balls have enough elasticity."

His arm muscles were distinctly defined, every stir packed with strength.

Riven watched his focused profile, and those hands capable of sailing paraphrase, fishing, now patiently crafting food, her gaze involuntarily turned a bit introspective.

Meanwhile, Crown Princess Mette elegantly leaned at the entrance of the salon, holding a glass of white wine, quietly observing the scene.

She wanted to help but found herself unfamiliar with this life-infused world.

She didn’t know where the salt was, nor how to use the gimbal stove that stayed level even as the boat swayed.

She could only watch the seamless cooperation in the kitchen — Lin Yu’an leading the task, Riven assisting beside him, occasionally whispering to each other, their shoulders sometimes inadvertently touching.

That kind of natural intimacy was something she, as a mother, had never seen beside her daughter.

She looked at her daughter’s back, softly lamenting to Mike beside her, "In the blink of an eye, my sweetheart has grown so big, already at the age to be a mother..."

Mike’s hand, holding the whiskey, paused abruptly; he glanced at the couple in the kitchen.

Then at Mette’s complex expression on her face, his Adam’s apple moved slightly, but he ultimately said nothing, simply draining the glass in one go.

At 6:45 PM, dinner began.

When the small induction cooker in the center of the teak dining table started to simmer and steam, dinner officially commenced.

The first dish wasn’t hot pot, but mackerel sashimi aged at low temperature, prepared personally by Mike.

The fillet, left in ice-salty water for hours, presented itself with a translucent, warm pink gloss, appearing tauter than when first cut.

Using an extremely sharp yanagiba knife, he swiftly sliced a few thin and uniform pieces of fish, carefully arranging them on a chilled white porcelain plate.

Beside it, a small dish of soy sauce and freshly ground wasabi were the only accompaniments.

"Here, Mette, try this," Mike handed her the first plate, "Taste the true flavor of the sea."

Crown Princess Mette gracefully picked up a thin slice of sashimi with chopsticks. Lin Yu’an was a bit surprised that she could use chopsticks.

Without dipping in any sauce, she placed it directly into her mouth, closing her eyes to savor like the most professional wine connoisseur.

A moment later, she slowly opened her eyes, her blue pupils reflecting not exaggerated shock, but a complex mix of surprise, appreciation, and a hint of nostalgia.

"Interesting..." she murmured, then elegantly wiped her mouth with a napkin, her gaze sweeping over Mike and Lin Yu’an, "A very intriguing taste."

She looked at everyone, beginning her assessment from a top-tier food critic’s perspective.

"At Oslo’s Maaemo restaurant (Norway’s only Michelin three-star), I’ve tasted deep-sea halibut handled in a similar method."

"However, it’s a bit different. Maaemo’s deliciousness is precisely calculated."

"The chef would inform you of the specific fjord in northern Norway where the fish was caught, how many hours it matured, paired with which valley’s moss extract."

"It’s a perfect artwork, yet you know it’s been designed."

Next came the hot pot’s main event. When Lin Yu’an, using a spoon, placed the snowy white, springy handmade fish balls into the rolling tomato fish bone broth, the atmosphere became even warmer.

The fish balls bobbed up and down in the rich broth, soon floating to the top, exuding a pure and enticing fragrance of fresh fish.

Riven was the first to eagerly pick one up, blow on the hot steam, then pop it directly into her mouth.

"Mmm!" She happily squinted, praise spilling out her mouth despite the unclear words, "So delicious! So springy and fresh!"

Crown Princess Mette watched her daughter eat with such unguarded satisfaction, her gaze turning infinitely gentle.

She watched quietly, as if through this steamy scene before her, she caught a glimpse of the distant past.